East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Hospital Play Assistant

The closing date is 29 March 2026

Job summary

A rare opportunity has arisen to join our friendly, professional and supportive Play Team at Ipswich Hospital as a Hospital Play Assistant.

This is a part time position, 24 hours per week, working day time shifts, providing play and recreational activities for individual children/groups of children of any age in the Hospital setting, helping to maintain a safe and child-focussed environment where play occurs naturally.

Please note the advert will close earlier if sufficient number of applications received.

Main duties of the job

To meet and greet child/ family attending the hospital department, maintaining good communications with children, families and other visitors to the hospital
To organize, supervise and maintain play activities for individual / groups of children and young people in hospital, according to their individual needs and as part of the overall care plan.
To plan a programme of daily play activities for the playroom / department in conjunction with Play Specialists
To use knowledge of child development when selecting play activities, promoting the normal development of children by using play as development aid
To document play interventions where appropriate.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

432-HR1405-25

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the duties and responsibilities of this role, please see attached job description & person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the duties and responsibilities of this role, please see attached job description & person specification.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Proven post qualification experience directly working with children /young people

Desirable

Experience of working as part of a team
Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Qualifications

Essential

Up to secondary school education
NNEB or NVQ Level 3 Child Care

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge and understanding of child development
Knowledge of current best practice
Knowledge of child protection issues
Understanding of confidentiality
Knowledge of NAHPS guidelines for professional practice its application to practice
Health, safety and risk awareness

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Proven post qualification experience directly working with children /young people

Desirable

Experience of working as part of a team
Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Qualifications

Essential

Up to secondary school education
NNEB or NVQ Level 3 Child Care

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge and understanding of child development
Knowledge of current best practice
Knowledge of child protection issues
Understanding of confidentiality
Knowledge of NAHPS guidelines for professional practice its application to practice
Health, safety and risk awareness

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)